Nail file

ABSTRACT

A nail file, including a file sheet and a handle, wherein at least the file sheet is made of biscuit porcelain, the file sheet containing an abrasive agent.

BACKGROUND

The present invention relates to a nail file whose file sheet is made ofbiscuit porcelain, the file sheet containing an abrasive surface.

It is already known to manufacture nail files for filing toenails frommetal, glass, ceramic, or plastics. A nail file made of porcelain isalso already known.

DE 10 2005 013 387 A1 discloses a nail file comprising a handle and afile sheet, in which at least the file sheet is made of feldsparporcelain. The file sheet has an abrasive surface that is situated onthe file sheet as a coating. The file sheet is made of a pure feldsparporcelain compound, the coating for producing an abrasive surface notbeing applied until a subsequent work step, namely by glazing. Theglazing or coating contains a mixture of kaolin, courts, and feldspar,and has emery as an abrasive agent.

In order to manufacture such a file from feldspar porcelain, first theraw mixture of feldspar porcelain is cast in a mold, and subsequentlythe cast and dried porcelain blank is immersed in the glazing slurry,i.e., the glazing in liquid form, the slurry containing the abrasiveagent. The file blanks coated in this way are then dried and aresubsequently burned at approximately 1400° C., yielding the nail file.

According to a another variant of the method, it is provided that thefeldspar porcelain blanks are first subjected to a first burning atapproximately 1400° C., and are then immersed in the glazing slurrycontaining the abrasive agent, and are then burned a second time atapproximately 1400° C.

DE 10 2005 013 387 A1 also already proposes that the abrasive agent beincorporated immediately in the porcelain compound in order to create anabrasive surface on the file as a result of the properties of thematerial. In the description of said patent application, it is indicatedthat such a procedure would have the disadvantage that the abrasiveagent embedded in this way in the porcelain compound would disturb thestructure of the feldspar porcelain in such a way that a file made inthis way would have an increased brittle fracture characteristic.

SUMMARY

On the basis of the porcelain file known from the prior art, the presentinvention is based on the object of creating a nail file of the samegeneral type that has sufficient hardness for its intended applicationand has a satisfactory brittle fracture characteristic, but has a simpleconstruction and is less expensive to manufacture.

This object is achieved by a nail file that, in contrast to the nailfile known from the prior art, is made not of feldspar porcelain butrather of biscuit porcelain.

Accordingly, the nail file according to the present invention,comprising a file sheet and a file handle, is characterized in that atleast the file sheet is made of biscuit porcelain, the file sheetcontaining an abrasive agent.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Porcelain contains, as essential components, clay, feldspar, and quartz.Clay is made of aluminum silicates containing water. In the relevantprior art, the terms kaolin or porcelain clay are also used to refer tothis material.

In order to manufacture the porcelain, the named initial materials areground and are mixed with water to form a taste which is subsequentlymolded. The porcelain is produced from this paste by sintering orburning.

Typical formulas for manufacturing porcelain comprise a mixture of thenamed initial materials in ratios of approximately 50:25:25 to 30:30:40percent by weight). However, mix ratios differing significantly fromthese may also be used. This is due not least to the fact that theinitial materials are naturally occurring minerals whose composition mayvary greatly from region to region.

The terms “feldspar porcelain” and “biscuit porcelain,” their methods ofmanufacture, and the initial materials required to manufacture them areknown to those skilled in the art from their use in the porcelainindustry.

Feldspar porcelain is a generic term for porcelain coated with aglazing. Here, a glazing is applied to a porcelain blank. The use of aglazing causes the particles contained in the porcelain compound to bondto one another during the sintering or burning required to manufacturethe porcelain; this yields a porcelain having a hard surface. Theglazing usually gives the porcelain a smooth surface.

Biscuit porcelain is a generic term for porcelain that is not glazed,i.e., in which the use of a glazing is omitted. In general, it is not ashard as feldspar porcelain. In addition, its surface is usually rougherthan that of feldspar porcelain.

Preferably, a light-colored clay is used as initial material formanufacturing the raw porcelain compound for the manufacture of the nailfile according to the present invention, so that after manufacture thenail file has a light color that is attractive to the user.

The porcelain compound used for manufacture may contain aggregates.Aggregates are for example quartz, preferably present in the form ofsand, preferably as very fine-grained sand or ground native rocks. Otheraggregates that are standardly found in porcelain manufacturing includefor example additional minerals related to clay or kaolin.

The addition of ground pumice can also increase the porosity of theburned product, also contributing to the roughness and abrasive effectof the surface of the file.

In a first working step, the components of the biscuit porcelainprovided for the manufacture of the nail file are mixed with water insuch a way that a soft, pliable paste, the raw porcelain compound,results.

The paste is subsequently cast in a mold that forms the nail file in thedesired size and shape. The mold is preferably a very hard,fire-resistant clay mold.

Portions that protrude or that extend past the mold are removed, forexample by scraping.

The abrasive surface of the nail file according to the present inventionis created through the incorporation of abrasive agents into theporcelain compound used for the manufacturing, or through theapplication of abrasive agents onto the surface of file blanks that havenot yet been burned.

Preferably, an abrasive agent is carefully distributed on the surface ofthe molded nail file blank, and is incorporated into the raw mixture ofthe blank through the application of pressure.

The abrasive agents are selected from the group containing: ground burntbiscuit porcelain, ground pumice stone, ground quartz (also in the formof sand), diamond powder, emery.

Minerals, preferably in ground form, can also be used to produce theabrasive surface. Minerals are naturally occurring solid materialshaving a uniform chemical composition and a structure that is uniform onthe microscopic level. Examples include oxides, hydroxides, carbonates,sulfides, sulfates, and phosphates of metals.

Ground, burnt biscuit porcelain, ground quartz, or ground minerals areparticularly preferable for use as abrasive agents.

Quite particularly preferred as an abrasive agent is ground, burntbiscuit porcelain.

The grain or degree of coarseness of the abrasive surface, whichdetermines the filing effect, can be set via the degree of grinding.According to the standard used in the abrasives industry, the grain ofthe abrasive surface of the nail file is in general 180 to 800microgrit. The microscopically determined distance between the grainspresent on the surface of the file is in general 0 to 25 μm.

After the application of the abrasive agent, the mold containing thefile blank is sintered or burnt at a temperature of 1400° C. to 2300° C.The burning temperature is preferably from 1600° C. to 2100° C., inparticular from 1700° C. to 2000° C.

The burning or sintering process preferably lasts from one to threedays. In general, good results are achieved after a sintering or burningduration of 40 to 70 hours, preferably 40 to 50 hours.

In this way, the nail file is given a hardness and a brittle fracturecharacteristic that are well-suited to its intended use.

During the sintering or burning, a loss of material of up to 15% mayoccur due to the escaping volatile components.

After the termination of the burning process, the mold containing thenail file is slowly cooled to room temperature. Unwanted particlesadhering to the file can be rinsed off using water, preferably a jet ofwater, after removing the file from the mold if warranted. Thissimultaneously cleans and polishes the file.

The abrasive agent embedded in or on the surface of the biscuitporcelain produces an abrasive surface without disturbing thecomposition of the biscuit porcelain, so that the brittle fracturecharacteristic required for use is not adversely affected. The file thenhas strength sufficient for its intended use. This is surprising in viewof the disadvantages known from the prior art.

In contrast to the nail file known from the prior art made of feldsparporcelain, which has to be glazed in order to apply the abrasivecoating, the nail file of the same general type according to the presentinvention, made of biscuit porcelain, does not contain a glazing.Because the additional work steps involved in producing the glazingslurry, applying the glazing, and a possible second burning are omitted,the nail file made of biscuit porcelain, having otherwise similarmanufacturing steps, is simpler and more economical to manufacture withrespect to production costs than is the known file made of feldsparporcelain.

The shape of the nail file may be freely selected via the shape of theclay mold.

The nail file is preferably fashioned in one piece, i.e., both the filesheet and the file handle are made of biscuit porcelain.

For example, it is possible to shape the mold in such a way that thenail file runs to a pointed tip at one end and is rounded at the otherend.

It may also be manufactured so that it is rounded at both ends.

In a specific embodiment of the nail file, only one side of the filesheet is made abrasive.

In another specific embodiment of the nail file, one side of the filesheet is made abrasive and the other side is made porous.

The abrasive agent can be applied on one side of the surface of the fileblank provided as the file sheet in such a way that regions of thissurface do not contain abrasive agent.

For example, end regions of the nail file may be produced in such a waythat they do not contain any abrasive agent. Such parts can then befashioned as the handle or also as the tip of the file.

Thus, in another specific embodiment the surface of the nail file has anon-abrasive region that acts as the handle.

In another specific embodiment, the surface of the nail file has anon-abrasive region fashioned as the tip. The tip is then used to cleanfingernails or toenails.

In another specific embodiment, it is also conceivable during themanufacture of the nail file to apply differently abrasive agents indifferent regions on the surface of the file blank. In this way, thefinished file can be given a surface that has different grains indifferent regions or segments. In another specific embodiment, it isalso conceivable first to place abrasive agent into the mold, andsubsequently to add the porcelain raw mixture and then to apply abrasiveagent to the exposed surface in the manner described above. After themanufacture of the nail file, both sides of the file sheet then containabrasive agent.

Because the nail file according to the present invention is made ofporcelain, it can advantageously be cleaned for example in boilingwater, because it is inert relative thereto. This simultaneously permitssterilization without damaging the file. The file can thenadvantageously be used for example in hospitals, and for differentpatients.

Examples of specific embodiments of the nail file are shown in FIGS. 1to 4.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows a top view of a nail file according to the presentinvention having a tip and a round end, having an abrasive surface a.

FIG. 2 shows the nail file according to the present invention of FIG. 1in a side view.

FIG. 3 shows a nail file according to the present invention havingrounded ends in a top view, having an abrasive surface a.

FIG. 4 shows the nail file according to the present invention of FIG. 3in a side view.

1. A nail file, comprising; a file sheet and a handle, wherein at leastthe file sheet is made of biscuit porcelain, the file sheet containingan abrasive agent.
 2. The nail file as recited in claim 1, characterizedin that both the file sheet and the handle are made of biscuitporcelain.
 3. The nail file as recited in claim 1, characterized in thatthe abrasive agent is burnt biscuit porcelain, quartz, or minerals inground form.
 4. The nail file as recited in claim 3, characterized inthat the abrasive agent is burnt biscuit porcelain.
 5. The nail file asrecited in claim 1, characterized in that only one side of the filesheet is made abrasive.
 6. The nail file as recited in claim 1,characterized in that one end of the file is fashioned non-abrasively,as a handle.
 7. The nail file as recited in claim 1, characterized inthat one end of the file is fashioned non-abrasively, as a tip.
 8. Thenail file as recited in claim 1, characterized in that one side of thefile sheet is fashioned so as to have different degrees of abrasivenessin different segments.
 9. The nail file as recited in claim 1,characterized in that the two sides of the file sheet are fashioned soas to have different degrees of abrasiveness.